2013 News

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND (19 July 2013) – Mother nature delivered exactly as promised, and perhaps even more so on Friday, when a passing front brought winds of just under 20 knots and waves up to 5 feet to the 2013 Farr 30 World Championship fleet. Boats and bodies were bruised and beaten, but those able to deal with the lumpy seas and puffy wind still smiled when they hit the dock.

“We’ve only done one regatta with the Farr 30 going into the Worlds, and thanks to a group of great sailors around me we’re going pretty well,” said leader Rod Jabin. “We’ve got a solid boat underneath us and a great sail package, so whether we win or lose, it’s all down to us.”

Jabin downplays his accomplishments, but the newcomer’s just being modest; the Annapolis based boatyard owner’s Farr 30 Ramrod has been trading the lead with two-time World Champ Groovederci all week long, and he finished today with a slim two point lead over Barking Mad, with another two points back to Groovederci’s Demourkas. “It will be a full scramble tomorrow; hopefully we’ll come out looking good,” Jabin said.

Watch or download a 3-minute video interview with Rod Jabin after today’s great performance at this link: http://on.fb.me/12CqfeS

Battle For Fifth An Aussie “Family Affair”

Dr. Harald Bruening’s Topas team from Germany sits 8 points behind Dutch expat and new Newport resident Peter Taselaar’s Bliksem in the race for fifth place, while New Yorker Norm Dean’s Just Plain Nutz lies 21 points behind them. The teams would seem to have nothing in common at first glance, but the winner of this three-way tussle takes bragging rights home to Sydney, Australia come Christmas time. That’s because three Australian cousins are racing on the three boats, all separated by just a few points. Bliksem has Pauly Atkins aboard as trimmer, while cousins David Chapman and Jeremy Wilmot call tactics on Topas and Just Plain Nutz respectively. “When I go home and see my nana for Christmas, she’ll ask us which cousin is the best sailor,” said Chapman, who lies just 7 points behind Atkins. “This is the first time we’ve all raced against each other in ages, so we’ve got something to prove!” he said, only half-joking.

Scenery May Change With Windier Day Possible

With up to 25 knots and boat-breaking waves possible, Race Officer Peter Reggio says he may decide to race the boats inside Narragansett Bay for the two final races of the Championship. Reggio will make the decision by 8 AM, with racing to begin by 11 AM and two races to follow either inside the bay or in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spectators can watch on the Class Facebook Page for real-time updates, including video, photos, and written reports of the exciting finale to this spectacular championship.

With more than 3,600 Likes, the Farr 30 Class’s Facebook page continues to highlight how much owners and crew love the Farr 30. The Class encourages everyone who loves the Farr 30 to “Like” the page here, and keep refreshing Facebook all week for intense action from the water, with high-impact photography, video interviews, and near real-time updates from the warm waters of the Atlantic.

After a Class re-organization in 2009, the Farr 30 Class embarked on an aggressive plan of rebirth and growth of Class racing, resulting in strong growth of the Worlds fleet leading to the 2013 Championship. Class racing continues to grow from Annapolis to Sweden, from Southern California and the Arabian Peninsula to Turkey. Used boats in great condition are widely available, providing a surprisingly cost-effective alternative to more expensive 30-foot racers that provide a fraction of the fun and versatility of the Farr 30. For more, check out www.farr30.org.

ABOUT THE FARR 30 CLASS

Designed in 1995 by legendary Kiwi Bruce Farr, the Farr 30 (a/k/a Mumm 30) remains one of the most versatile and beloved one-design racing yachts ever built. Designed without the constraints of rating or handicap rules, the Farr office created a boat that would be simple, fast, and rewarding to sail for owner/drivers. With over 200 boats built to date, Farr 30s race on all the world’s oceans in one-design, handicap, and long-distance racing, with active fleets on the US East Coast, Southern California, Great Lakes the Chesapeake, Vancouver BC, Sweden and Australia. Class events are governed by the International Farr 30 Class Association. More info on the class is available at www.farr30.org and Editors are encouraged to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any information or to schedule an interview with a Class representative.